Пуаро ведёт следствие
IX. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
There’ssafetyinacrowd.”
PoirotturnedinquiringlytoJapp.
“Idon’tagree.Getclearawayatonce—that’stheonlychance.Iwouldhavehadplentyoftimetopreparethingsbeforehand.I’dhaveayachtwaiting,withsteamup,andI’dbeofftooneofthemostout-of-the-waycornersoftheworldbeforethehueandcrybegan!”
WebothlookedatPoirot.“Whatdoyousay,monsieur?”
Foramomentheremainedsilent.Thenaverycurioussmileflittedacrosshisface.
“Myfriends,ifIwerehidingfromthepolice,doyouknowwhereIshouldhide?Inaprison!”
“What?”
“YouareseekingMonsieurDavenheiminordertoputhiminprison,soyouneverdreamoflookingtoseeifhemaynotbealreadythere!”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“YoutellmeMadameDavenheimisnotaveryintelligentwoman.NeverthelessIthinkthatifyoutookhertoBowStreetandconfrontedherwiththemanBillyKellett,shewouldrecognizehim!Inspiteofthefactthathehasshavedhisbeardandmoustacheandthosebushyeyebrows,andhascroppedhishairclose.Awomannearlyalwaysknowsherhusband,thoughtherestoftheworldmaybedeceived!”
“BillyKellett?Buthe’sknowntothepolice!”
“DidInottellyouDavenheimwasacleverman?Hepreparedhisalibilongbeforehand.HewasnotinBuenosAyreslastautumn—hewascreatingthecharacterofBillyKellett,‘doingthreemonths,’sothatthepoliceshouldhavenosuspicionswhenthetimecame.Hewasplaying,remember,foralargefortune,aswellasliberty.Itwasworthwhiledoingthethingthoroughly
